SoxBlanco

2020 is not an all-in year for the Sox. If it was, perhaps we would have gone bigger for RF. But instead, we picked up a stopgap option with a really high ceiling. Hahn even said we don't have the long term answer there. Maybe Mazara becomes that, but if not, we try to upgrade next year through free agency, trade, or our own prospects. The Mazara deal was fine for where the Sox are at right now.

When I read the thread title, my first thought was, “I’m expecting a huge offensive season...something like 45 bombs and a .900 OPS.” Then I read your post and saw you had the exact same prediction. Great minds.

@Look at Ray Ray Run @ChiSox59 Sounds like a great chance for a bet between you two. 10-1 odds. If Madrigal breaks camp with the team, you owe Ray Ray $200. If he doesn't, Ray Ray owes you $20. Why don't you guys just PayPal me the money now and I'll send it to whoever wins the bet? In fact, go ahead and give me your checking account information and social security numbers just in case anything goes wrong.

I agree. I prefer him in AAA where he can continue to get consistent playing time. But at this moment, I just don’t know who to put as the last bench spot.

I agree. I just wasn’t sure if it was possible that we use that last spot for a 5 man bench. I’m going to put Fulmer in there for now.

What does your bench look like right now, assuming Garcia starts at 2B?

I want to create this thread and update the original post as we make spring training decisions or if we make any more minor moves. As we stand right now, help me out on what the opening day roster will look like. Don't worry about things like who is the starter and who is the bench option between Garcia and Mendick. I didn't put much thought into that. I just want to try and nail down the 26 guys. Will we go with a 5 man bench or an 8 man bullpen? I realize that most of this is pretty set already, so this might turn into a bullpen discussion, but that's alright. Starters: C - Grandal 1B - Abreu 2B - Garcia 3B - Moncada SS - Anderson LF - Eloy CF - Robert RF - Mazara DH - Encarnacion Bench: McCann Mendick Engel Cuthbert Rotation: Giolito Keuchel Lopez Gonzalez Cease Bullpen: Colome Bummer Cishek Herrera Fry Marshall Cordero Fulmer

This is exactly how I read it. The fact that we only have Mazara for two years is the key...it's not a knock on his skills/production.

Haha, as I read that post, I was thinking..."I remember Dyson and maybe Dave Roberts back in the day...can't really think of anybody else."

It’s an ESPN Insider article. Here’s the link: https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/28412068/what-baseball-look-2020s

Agreed. The question becomes...is he better off in AAA or getting limited reps with the Sox?

Good call. I’ll be pulling hard for him, and not just because I’ll naturally be rooting for the Sox. On a personal level for Carson, it would be great to see him turn it around.

Yeah, I’m expecting him to be on the opening day roster, to be honest. Give him one last shot and then cut ties if it doesn’t work out.

I had the exact same thought.

Good to hear about JD.

You might be right, but I’m willing to give RR the benefit of the doubt until he pulls that crap when we are in a contending year. Same with refusing to move Abreu out of the 3 hole. Those type of things were annoying, but they didn’t really matter much in a rebuilding year. I’d like to think he will choose winning over loyalty at this point.

Agreed. Collins could also get more time at DH against right handers, when Abreu gets the day off and EE plays 1B.

Actually, he might not have any clue whether the guy has sources, which is why your way of wording it wouldn’t work in this case. He’s not sitting there thinking, “this guy doesn’t have sources,” but he’s also not sitting there thinking that this guy does have sources. He just isn’t sure one way or another, which is why he worded it the way he did. Wow, my head hurts now.

Yep. And for the AL Central.

With only one year of control left, would a team that won’t be contending be interested in McCann? Are there contending teams that are looking for a catcher?

Great point, and I’ve been excited about this as well. Hitting is contagious, both positively and negatively (like Birmingham’s first couple of months last year).

I don’t think this is a guarantee like it used to be. Last year, RR didn’t have many options for the 3 spot. Eloy was struggling early, and we didn’t have Grandal or EE. I would guess that Abreu starts at 3, but I don’t think RR will refuse to change things up. This is the first team he has ever coached that isn’t in a rebuilding year.

No worries. I edited my last post, and I see why it was confusing.

Yeah, but that has nothing to do with his point. His point is that the three positions where the Twins might have an edge are not weaknesses for us. EDIT: I see the confusion now, and I see it’s been cleared up.

If RR wants to let Robert lead off right from the start, I think he goes with something like this: Robert Moncada Abreu Grandal Eloy Encarnacion Anderson Mazara Madrigal If not, I think he just switches Robert and Anderson.